Container filling machine



Sept, 27, 1932. R. N. cuNDALL CONTAINER FILLING MACHINE original Filedont. 23, 1928 Patented Sept. 277, 1932 UNiTED STATES lP49511:Nr

ROBERT N. CUNDALL, `or BLASDIELL, NEW YORK.. kASSGnILxTQn l .THE HQE-NER.AU'IKJ MATIC MACHINERY CoRroR-A'rromolj BUEFALOXNEW YQRK, Aoonronappron or NEW 'YORK original application :ned octoberza, 1928,,serial Nac-14,469. niv-idea and this application aieizuiy as;

ooNTAINnn ,FILLING 'MAGHlNE 1931. 'Serial NQ. 552,572.

'This invention relates to a machinefor tilling containers with powdered:materials such as talc, baking powder, and medical land toiletpreparations -o powdered form.

It lis the object of this invention to provide improved means foraccurately measuring .the powdered material which lis delivered Ito`each of the containers.

This is a division .of an .application filed October 23, 1928, SerialNumber 314,469.

' nthe `accom'panyin-g dra-wing:

Fig. l is arfragmentary vertical 'transverse section :oa containerfilling machine Vembodying 'my improvements.

Fig. 2 -is la similar view ofi' Athe .measuring device with the :partsina position different from that sho-wn in Fig. 1.

`Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary horizontal sections taken on 'thecorrespondingly 'numhei-ed lines in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is .a -vertical section taken Aon line 5 5, Fig. 4.

lF-igftl `lis a vertical section showing va .modified torni oi: themeans for' controlling the discharge of vpowdered Vmaterial .from "thesupply reservoir. Y

In lthe follow-ing description `similar characters -of referencelindicatelilke parts in the several 1lig'ures of the drawing.

The stationary main ltrame ofth-e :machine upon which :the -Workingparts are mounted maybe ofany suitable `oonstructionlbut the same, asvshown in vvthe drawings, preferably comprises apedestall6,=and a base17 mount.- ed on this pedestal and provided with forwardly projectingYtrent brackets 18 and :up-- wardly projecting .rear brackets'l.-

The numeral 20' represents'the containers which are to be filled withthe Vpresent machine andlwhi'ch'may be' of `anysuitable formin'horizontal-section `and adaptedf'to .-beolosed at the upperendbyacap.Thesecontainers are -moved `past lthe 'filling position whilemounted-onthe-upper horizontal stretch ofia conveyer or ifeeding'belt22fand running' over tracks Y27 and the containers are Vheldagainstlateral displacement from the feeding 'belt by rails 28 Varranged:lengthwise Y.onwopposite sides of the tracks and thecontainer fillingposition.- Y

" The numeral 38 represents the maindsliavlV ing .shaft .of the machineVwhich is -j our-nailed horizontally and lengthwise :in the lower rearpant of the aaa-ain frame.

vThe :parts ,of eachA of the 1filling .devices which coeoperate directlywith .each tainer are constructed as follows The numeral 64C representsione of :a plural# ity of vertically movable -Jilling heads or nozf.

zles .arranged respectivelylabove :the -seyeral containers while Athe.latter are Lat :the Jlli-ng stations, each of .these heads, being.provided at its Flower .end Witlaja downwialdly 'facing nabber or.elastic ring 65 ,adapted to Y engage the upper iedge .of .oneof thecontainers upon lowering the respective head and form .an tight jointtherewith `when the head is lowered into its operative position. y .l

rEhe several filling headsv or nozzles are mounted on ia verticallymovable yoke 'G6 which latter is :provided with .upper tand low.- erflanges 67, 68,1"n which necks 69 .on the ,upper .ends of Ithe heads are5capable of. Asliding vertically. Eachiozt these heads isyieldingl-yheldA in its `slowermaost position onthe Yyoke in.- dependentl-y o theother heads 'by asprng 70 surnounding the .respective neck .and ybear'Eing :at .its :upperiend :against acollar Klon the neck, which collaralso -limits the .downward Vmovementlof .fthe head ley-engaging fthe.up-

per side .oct the lower yoke ange 1.68 .when the headdoes not eng-ageIaacontainer.

`The Vdownward `movement `of the `yoke an the ipa-nts mountedthereon liselfected fby gravity :but lthe .upward movement Yof `the fsame iseffected fby means 'which .comprise `a ,pair of vertically swinging:levers 7.2 ipivoted at their inner and outerends respectivelytofthemain frame .and said yoke, .-a rotary-cam .73

secured :to fa rotary. shaft-stl, a :cam rock farm 7 eiturning on-:t-hes'hat BSandcngagi-ngpwth the cam 7 3, and a cross bar 7 5 connectingftherock levers )7.2 v:an-dconnected by .a .rod 76 with fthe .cam` rock anm174.

Due :to this yielding connection v:between 9 each filling :head A.and:the fyoke,f.reaoh of the heads, .upon loweringthe yoke, fwill .engageits flowerrend .withtherespectivefcontainer ndependently of theotherheads and fthereby enablealllof-athe heads to engage theseveralcontainers properly notwithstanding that there may be some variation inthe height of.

arrested in its downward movement before the yoke completes its downwardmovement.`

Each of the filling heads is provided with an inlet passage 77whichfextends downwardly therefrom within the neck-of thev respectivecontainer and an outlet passage78 which opens at the lower end of thehead at a point above the lower end of the inlet passage 77.

The inlet passage extends to the'rear side of the head and is connectedby a flexible tube 79 with the lower part of a vpowder supply bin,hopper or reservoir 80 through the medium of a controlling device. Theoutlet passage 78 communicates with the neck of the respective head andthis neck is connected at its upper end by a liexible tube 81y with asuction manifold 82 mounted on a suitable supportzsuch' as the frontside of the reservoir, as shown in Fig. 1. This suction manifoldisfconnected-with `an exhaust pump or other suitable exhausting vdeviceso that a vacuum is 'createdwithin the several filling heads and theconduits andcontainers communicating therewith.

IWhile the filling heads are elevated and not engaged with containersthe suction of the pump on the manifold 82 causes the ex- Y ternal airto be drawn into the outlet passages of the heads without producing anyeffect on the powder in thereservoir. When,

however,.the heads are engagedfwith the con-` tainers, the suctioneifect of the pump causes air and powder to be drawn from the supplythrough the supply pipes or tubes 79 and as this powder issues from thelower end of the inlet passage 77 the same issepa-rated from the air dueto the reversed direction of movement which the air is compelled to takein escaping throughvthe outlet passage 78,

thereby causing the liberated powder to ydrop into the containers. Whena container has been lled with powder up to the lower end of the inletpassage the continued suction of the pump carries the .surplus powderthereafter withdrawn from the supply to a separator which may be of anysuitable construction, and enables the by-passed powder to be recoveredand eventually returned to the reservoir for filling the same intocontainers. i

Y The material to be packed may be supplied to the reservoir from anysuitable source, for example bya pipe, (not shown) leading to the top ofthe reservoir for replenishing thematerial when required. Y In theabsence ofany provision to agitate and distribute the` material in thereservoir,

.65 the same is liable to become packed andV flow,

unevenly into the several filling headsand tomeet this condition anagitating and distributing device is provided consisting preferably of ascrew conveyer 85 arranged horizontally and lengthwise vrin the lowerpart of the reservoir adjacent to the discharge openings leading to thepowder supply tubes.

Between the lower end of the powdered material supplymagazine 80 andeach supply tube 79 is arranged'a controlling device which is preferablyconstructed so as to also measure the batches of material which aredelivered tosuccessive containers. This form of controlling device isbest shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3,l 4 and 5, and constructed as follows:

The numerals 90, 91,7represent the` upper and lower sections of ameasuring chamber' whichV telescope one `within the other so that thecapacity of this chamber may be accurately determined by moving thesetelescopic sections toward and from each other. This adjustment maybe-effected in any suitable manner but preferably by two right and lefthand screws 92 engaging with threaded openings in flanges 93 on oppositesides ofthe measuring chamber sections, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, andadapted when turnedone direction or another to separate thesesections orbring them together for either. increasing or decreasing the capacity ofthe chamber.

The upper section of the measuring chamber is connected by a hollow top94 withan outlet in thebottom of the material supply reservoir and thelower section of this chamber is connected by a hollow base 95 with theinlet end of the respective supply tube 79. Between the upper measuringchamber section and the top 94 is formeda horizontal guideway 96 inwhich an inlet slide valve 97 moves for the purpose ofbringing aport 98in this valve either into orrout of register with the passage leadingfrom therreservoir to the measuring chamber and thus permitting flow ofmaterial from, the reservoir into the measuring chambery or cutting'V osuch flow.` A similar guideway 99 is formed bctween .the lower measuringchamber section andthe base 95 in which an outlet slide valve 100 movesfor bringing a port 101 in this valve either into or out. of registerwith the passage from the measuring chamber to the respective fillingVhead and thus permit the delivery of the contents of this chamber orshutting the same jeff. The slide valves are actuated so that they vareopened alternately, this being preferably accomplished by a pair ofelbow levers 102, 103 mounted on rock shafts 202, 203 j ournaledinbearings on the kmain vframe and havingupwardly projecting armsconnected respectivelyjwith the upper inlet and lower outlet slidevalves while their lower -arms project` forwardly and back-' wardly,respectively, from their axes. Y

The rock shaft 202 carries the several elbow levers 102 associated Withthe inlet valves of the several measuring chambers and is rocledfbymeans which include a cam 1041011 the Vcounter shaft 41, a-roclr lever204 :which is turned in one direction by said. cam 104 and in theopposite direction by a spring 304, and a rod 214 connecting the rocklever204 with a rock arm 404 on the rock shaft 202. y

The rock shaft 203 carries the vseveral elbow levers 103 of the outletvalves of the measuring chambers and is rocked by means which include acam 303 mounted on the counter. shaft'41, a rock lever 503 which isturned in one direction by the cam 30.3, a spring603 which turns therock lever 503 in the opposite direction, and a. rod605 which connectsthe rock lever 503 with a rock arm 703 on the rock shaft 203, as shownin F ig. 8.V

During each 'cycle of operations of the ma chine the cams 104, 303,makea complete turn and first cause the upper slide' valve 97 to openand the lower slide valve 100 to close so that the measuring chamberwill become filled with powdered material, and then cause the uppervalve 97 to 'close and the lower valve 100 to open and permit thesuction from the manifold on the filling head to Vdraw the measuredquantity of material from the measuring chamber to the container.

lny order to prevent the' formation of a vacuum in the` measuringchamber and to permit `the material to be promptly and completelywithdrawn therefrom when this chamber is cut oli. from thesupply bin andconnected with a filling head, the upper section of the measuringchamber is provided with a plurality of vent openings 107 and also withlongitudinal vent grooves 207 in the external .flange on the lower partof the upper Vmeasuring chamber section, which openings and groovesleadto the outer at- Biosphere.

Similar vent holes 108 leading from the interior of the measuringchamber to the exterior are provided Yin the upperrpart of the hollowbase which connects the measuring chamber with the respective deliverytube 79 so as to prevent the formation of a vacuum in this part of thesupply passage when the lower valve is closed and thus permits ofeffectively withdrawing any material therefrom at this time. n

The mechanism for operating the slide valves 97, 100, is so timed thatthe measuring chamber connects with the respective con-v tainer whileits filling head is lowered into Y engagement therewith, but thischamber is only connected with the supply reservoir while the respectivefilling head is lifted from its container sothat illing of the measuringchamber proceeds while the containers vare advanced from one place toanother by the conveyer.

f the material to be packed into the conl ktainers does not requiremeasuring and the Asame is of a free flowing character the incas-liiring device may be omitted and instead Va single slide valve 109 maybe employed in a guideway V110 between the upper'and. lowersections111-, 112fof a valve casing connect= ing respectively with the supplyreservoir I and the delivery tube 79 which valve maybe! held tightlyagainst the upper section 111"l byspring pressed balls 113, as shown inFig. 6, or otherwise to prevent leakage, and this valve may alsobeactuated/by `means'which include a roch arm 114 engaging with 'thisVvValsoV while the supplying operation is suspended and the containers areadvancing step by step from 'one filling station to another.

form the vibrating. or

In itsVV preferred shaking mechanism is constructed as follows:

lArranged underneath theupper stretch of the container feed belt is avibrating plat form consisting preferably of a pluralityof longitudinalsections 115 and each mounted on the upper end of y v 116 which isguided in asuitable way 117 on the adjacent part of the main frame.Hammer blows in rapid succession are delivered against'the lower end ofeach vibrating rodl by a hammer head 120 arranged on the front end of ahammer arm 121 which is mounted at its rear-end on a supporting rod 122carried `by the Y jfraine. hammer arms is turned vin the direction forengaging its head'with the respective vibrating rod 'by a spring 123interposed between a Jtail 124 on-the underside of this arm and anabutment on the adjacent part of the frame,`

Y arm andY delivers blows in 'rapid succession' and thereby vibrates oryshakeszthe containersso that the material settles therein andtherebypermits ofl more completely and solidlyiilling the saine.` i iWhile the containers are in motion and be-` ingadvanced from one of thestations to anL otherfthe saine are preferably not vibrated and meansvare thereforeV provided fory this purpose which are constructed'asfollows z.

Thenumeral 4represents a supporting rock shaft which is j ournaledlengthwiseand horizontally on the` Each Vof these 1 main frame abovethe:

a vertical v'vibrating Vvrod -V Y is a trip linger 224 severalhammer'a-rm's, this shaft being rocked forwardly and backwardly. onceduring each cycle of operations of the machine by an intermediate rocklever 131turning on the shaft 38 and engaging its lower arm with a cam132 on the camshaft 11 while its upper arm is connectedby meansI of alink 133 with an upwardly projecting rock arm 134 on the rock shaft 130,as shown in Fig. 1.

' The lower arm of the rock lever 131 is held out pawl or dog 136, whichis provided at its upper end witha hub 137 whereby the same is mountedon the shaft 13() while its lower end is adapted to be moved either overa lowface 138 or a high face 139 on the upperside of one of the hammerarms 121 which is arranged immediately below the same.

Vhile the containers arejat rest at the several filling stations andalso at the nonfilling zones intermediate of these stations thepositionof the cam 132 isV such that the same operates through themedium of the rock 'lever 131 and associated parts to turn the rockshaft 130, so that the lower ends of the latter are moved forwardly overthe depressed surfaces 133 of the'several vibrating hammers, as shown byfull lines in Fig. 1.V Vhen the parts are in this position each of thehammer arms is free to be thrown by its spring 123 upwardly against thelower end of the respective vibrating rod 116 and Valso drop withitstrip linger 124 from the high to the low parts of the teeth on theperipheryv of the adjacentratchet wheel 125, whereby a vibratory orshaking action is imparted to the several containers or cans supportedupon the vibrating platforms atl the filling stations Vand intermediateplaces. As shown in Fig. 1 this vibration is imparted to one of thecontainers while the upprerendV of the same is engaged by the respectivefilling head and powdered material is being delivgers thereof areI movedbeyond the `path of theteeth on the vibrator ratchet wheels'so that thelatter rotate idly without influencing the position of the hammer arms.When the filling heads are again engaged with the upper or inlet ends ofthe Containers the cam 132 withdraws the several detent pawls 136 fromthe high faces 139 on the hammer arms so thatthe latter are again freeto be shifted by their springs 123 into a position in which their headsengage with the lower ends of the Vvibrating rods and the trip lingerstherec of move into the path of the teeth of the ratchet wheels so thatvibration or shaking of the containers is resumed.

This machine permits of expeditiously filling containers with materialywhich is free-owing and difficult to control in order to pack thecorrect amount in each container and it also permits of compactingthematerial so that the containersneed be no larger than necessary,thereby eecting a' substantial economy. c

,I claim' as my; invention: v c A machine for filling containers,comprising a filling head adapted to communicate with the inlet of acontainer and adapted to be connected with an exhaust device, a materialreservoir adaptedA to supply material to said head for delivery intosaid container, a conduit for conveying the material from said reservoirto said head, and means for measuring the materialpassing through saidconduit comprising a measuring chamber having an inlet and an outlet, aninlet valve for controlling said inlet, an outlet valve for controllingsaid outlet, and means for'openingl and closing said valves alternately,said measuring chamber being provided between said valves kwith ventopenings, and said conduit being provided adjacent to said outlet valvewith vent openings.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

ROBERT N. cUNDALL. i

ered from the supply reservoir into this con- H tainer. Y Y

. l"When the filling heads are lifted from thev containers the cam132turns the Arock shaft 130 in the direction for shifting the detentpawls 136 from a position `over the depressed faces 138 of the hammerarms, as shown by full lines in Fig. 1 into a position over the.

tainers during .the time that the filling heads Y are out of engagementfromthe'same-. While the'hammer arms are thus depressed thennfri

